A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Xue Rengui found the white robe and silver armor he wore when he first joined the army and put it on.

He couldn't help but recall his journey from an ordinary soldier to the God of War of the Tang Dynasty.

Zhou Qing looked at his elder brother, whose temples were slightly gray. When he changed into his armor, he could see that Xue Rengui was covered in wounds.

His chest and back were covered with hideous scars—knife wounds, arrow wounds, spear wounds—any weapon used on the battlefield could leave a mark on Xue Rengui's body.

"Brother, is it worth it?"

Zhou Qing's eyes reddened, and she sobbed as she asked Xue Rengui.

"Back then, I rose from the border, conquered Liaodong, quelled rebellions, fought in the south and north, battled the iron cavalry of five countries, and pacified the coalition of eighteen countries. All my actions were for the stability of the Tang Dynasty and the well-being of its people."

"If I raise an army, the world will surely be in chaos, and once war breaks out, the people will suffer greatly."

Xue Rengui put on his battle robe and gazed in the direction of the imperial palace.

The passion and loyalty in my heart gradually cooled.

At this moment, a light drizzle began to fall, and Xue Rengui's vision became blurred.

He seemed to see the late emperor again, and the scene before the late emperor passed away, when he stroked his palm and entrusted the Tang Dynasty to him.

"The Tang Dynasty and the Crown Prince are all entrusted to you."

The late emperor's words entrusting his son to me still echo in my ears.

He received great favor from the late emperor and did his utmost to protect the Tang Dynasty.

But he never expected that his obedience to the late emperor's dying wish to defend his military power, his loyalty, and the state would ultimately result in a death sentence from the new emperor he had so carefully protected.

The reason was that they suspected him of holding military power and plotting a rebellion.

The reason was that he was following the late emperor's dying wish and was unwilling to hand over the power to guard the palace to the new emperor.

Unexpectedly, Xue Rengui, who was loyal and brave throughout his life, protected the Tang Dynasty, fought countless battles, and was selfless, ended up with the stigma of "harboring ulterior motives and despising the emperor."

Xue Rengui suddenly chuckled softly, his voice hoarse, carrying the weight of a lifetime of hardship, grievances, and despair.

"The late Emperor, did His Majesty suspect that I harbor feelings for the deposed Crown Prince?"

"The late Emperor, did His Majesty suspect me of plotting a rebellion?"

"Your Majesty, I cannot fulfill the promise I made to you."

He raised his eyes, gazing towards the palace, his words dripping with sorrow, yet devoid of any resentment towards the emperor, only an endless desolation remained:

"Your subject Xue Rengui rose from humble beginnings and was favored by the late Emperor and Empress Dowager. He served in the army for forty years, shedding his blood on every border of the Tang Dynasty to protect its stability."

"I am in charge of the Imperial Guards, as appointed by the late Emperor."

"My refusal to side with the Empress Dowager is an act of loyalty to the Tang Dynasty."

"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for Crown Prince Zhanghuai's upright character. This reflects my sense of justice and has never been a sign of disloyalty!"

"Throughout my life, I have never feared powerful enemies, battlefields, or being pierced by ten thousand arrows."

"Your Majesty, I fear only that I will fail the late Emperor's trust and be unable to protect this great Tang Dynasty."

"But I never imagined that while I could defend our vast lands and defend against a million enemy soldiers, I could not defend against Your Majesty's suspicion!"

"Your Majesty! Is your spirit in heaven watching? I'm afraid I must break my promise."

As soon as he finished speaking, tears welled up in the eyes of this iron-blooded war god who had fought his whole life, shedding blood but never tears, but he held them back.

Behind him, Zhou Qing was already sobbing uncontrollably.

Xue Rengui slowly raised his hand and gently stroked the mottled silver armor on his body.

This armor, stained with the blood of enemies, protected the homeland, served two emperors, and quelled the flames of war across thousands of miles.

Today, however, it cannot protect against the emperor's suspicions.

"Very well, in this life I have expanded the territory of the Tang Dynasty with my blood and flesh, and protected the Li family emperors with my life. In the end, I will return this life to Your Majesty!!"

After saying this, Xue Rengui did not hesitate for a moment.

He raised his hand, holding the imperial wine vessel high, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and bowed deeply, his voice resounding throughout heaven and earth:

"The late Emperor!"

"Your subject, Xue Rengui, has been loyal to the Tang Dynasty and the Li family throughout his life, and has never failed them!"

"My death today is not due to my disloyalty, but to the betrayal of the nation and the imperial family!"

Xue Rengui tilted his head back, about to drink the poisoned wine bestowed by the emperor, but was desperately stopped by Zhou Qing, Li Qinghong, and Wang Xinhe.

"Big brother, wait, wait!"

"The Prince of Yan, and the Prince of Yan too!"

"Let's go and beg the Prince of Yan!"

"As long as the Prince of Yan is willing to believe in my elder brother, everything can still be salvaged!"

Zhou Qing shouted at Xue Rengui.

"Zhou Qing, I know."

"But even if the Prince of Yan intervenes to protect me, what then?"

"I have already incurred His Majesty's suspicion; how am I to conduct myself from now on?"

Xue Rengui was loyal to the Tang Dynasty throughout his life and could not imagine what it would be like to be suspected by the emperor.

"Brother, at least he's still alive."

"And what about your reputation, brother? If you die like this, you'll truly be burdened with infamy, recorded in history books, and despised by future generations!"

Zhou Qing offered some words of advice.

"And what about my sister-in-law, nephew, and niece? What will happen to them?"

"Zhou Qing, after I die, please take good care of them for me."

"If I do not die, His Majesty will be branded as a cruel and wicked ruler. As his subject, how can I allow His Majesty to bear such a stigma?"

Even after being sentenced to death, Xue Rengui still thought of Li Xian. Although he had lost all affection for Li Xian, he still respected the late emperor.

He promised the late emperor that he would be powerless to continue his duties after his death.

But we must do our best while we are alive, and never break our promise!

Zhou Qing and the others knew that Xue Rengui was stubborn, but they didn't expect him to be this stubborn.

"Never mind, elder brother. He said I never said I didn't ask to be born on the same day, month, and year, but I did ask to die on the same day, month, and year."

"If you've really made up your mind, your brothers are with you!"

After saying that, Zhou Qing raised the poisoned wine and poured himself a cup as well.

Li Qinghong and Wang Xinhe also poured themselves a cup of poisoned wine without hesitation. As long as Xue Rengui drank it, they would drink it too.

"Zhou Qing, Qing Hong, Xin He, why are you doing this?"

"Brother, after you die, do you think those people will let us go?"

"We're all going to die sooner or later anyway, so I might as well go with my brother. At least I'll have someone to keep me company on the road to the underworld."

Zhou Qing said nonchalantly.

"I pity my sister-in-law and children, as well as the families of my brothers. I hope the court will give them a way out, considering how many years we brothers have fought for the Tang Dynasty."

"Zhou Qing..."

"Big brother, I knew you would make this choice."

Zhou Qing sighed softly, took out a paper package, took out a vegetable dumpling from it, broke it into four pieces, and handed it to Xue Rengui and the other two.

Fortunately, he was prepared!

"Big brother, do you remember this?"

Xue Rengui looked at the vegetable dumplings in front of him, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.

"I arrived a little late just now to do this."

Xue Rengui certainly remembered that he and Zhou Qing got to know each other because of these few vegetable dumplings.

He was born with superhuman strength and an amazing appetite; he could eat enough food for several people in one sitting.

Back then, Zhou Qing would often share half of his vegetable dumplings with him. Later, when the brothers became sworn brothers, the other brothers did the same.

At that time, he once thought that vegetable dumplings were the most delicious thing in the world, because they were not just vegetable dumplings, but also the camaraderie among the brothers.

Xue Rengui took the vegetable ball, which was still a little hot, and put it into his mouth, chewing it despite its high temperature.

Tears welled up in his eyes again.

"Brothers, Rengui is sorry."

The man did not shed tears, but he did not go to the sad place.

"Why should the eldest brother act like a little girl?"

"This isn't like the older brother I know."

Zhou Qing smiled, and seeing that the other two had also eaten their vegetable dumplings, he breathed a sigh of relief and ate his own vegetable dumpling.

After finishing their meal, the four raised their glasses, clinked them together, and drank them down without hesitation.

The poison is as potent as fire, instantly burning through the internal organs, causing excruciating pain that shatters bones and breaks the soul.

Four battle-hardened men, their bodies of steel, trembled violently, their knuckles clenched so tightly that their nails dug deep into their palms, drawing blood.

Yet they still stood ramrod straight, their arms around each other's shoulders, and despite the excruciating pain, they managed to laugh.

"Hahahaha, if there is an afterlife, let's be brothers again."

A mouthful of hot blood suddenly spurted out, staining the armor of the three men red.

Suddenly, a violent storm arose outside, with lightning and thunder, as if bidding farewell to this war god of the Tang Dynasty.

The Tang Dynasty's storms wept for loyal souls, yet the invincible white-robed warrior sacrificed his life!

Amidst the wind and rain, a figure emerged from the shadows.

A bolt of lightning struck the sky, illuminating the man's face. It was none other than Wei Ye!

"Xue Rengui was indeed loyal and brave; it's such a pity he died like this!"